Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
Unreality
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.
—New King James Version®
Like many scriptural admonitions (see examples in Jeremiah 29:8, 9; Ezekiel 13:1–9; Matthew 24:4, 5, 24; II Peter 2:1), this text alerts believers to false prophets—those who use persuasive words to draw listeners away from reliance on God or, in this case, from authentic Christian teachings.
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Resources cited in this issue
GT, RR: New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
RR: Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible: The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew, 1955. Revised and updated by Saint Andrew, 2001. Reprinted as The New Daily Study Bible: The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2001–04; Patzia, Arthur G. New International Biblical Commentary–Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1990.
Cit. 9: Keck, Leander E., et al., eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 1, Introduction to the Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Nashville: Abingdon, 2015.
Cit. 11: Keck, Leander E., et al., eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 9, Acts, Introduction to Epistolary Literature, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians. Nashville: Abingdon, 2015.
Cit. 14: Michaels, J. Ramsey. New International Biblical Commentary—John. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1984.
COPYRIGHT
Scriptural quotations marked International Children’s Bible® are taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked New International Reader’s Version™ are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version™, NIrV™. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scriptural quotations marked Contemporary English Version are taken from the Contemporary English Version, copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked Good News Translation are taken from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition, copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scriptural quotations marked New Century Version® are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked New Living Translation are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
© 2023 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The design of the Cross and Crown is a trademark owned by the Christian Science Board of Directors and is used by permission. Bible Lens and Christian Science Quarterly are trademarks owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society. Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
